Retractable assist grip and mounting method thereof

ABSTRACT

In a retractable assist grip in which a grip body rotatably supported on a mount is urged into swing motion from the use position to the retracted position, one side surface of a supporting part of the mount is formed integrally with s fulcrum pin extending therefrom. A pin support of a leg of the grip body is journaled on the fulcrum pin. On the other side surface of the supporting part, a recess and a loose-fit pin extending inside the recess from the bottom of the recess are formed coaxially with the fulcrum pin. The leg of the grip body is assembled against relative rotation with a spacer rotatably inserted into the recess and including a pin loose-fitting part for loosely receiving the loose-fit pin therein. A viscidity is provided between the outer periphery of the spacer and the inner periphery of the recess of the mount, thereby forming a damper. Further, a locking pin is retained prior to the mounting of the grip body to the mount. With the mount body engaged to the periphery of a mounting hole of an inner panel from the front side thereof, the locking pin is moved opposite to a direction of insertion thereof by the swing motion of the grip body to the use position so that an extension at the distal end of the locking pin is retained at a locking position, thereby holding flexible engaging pieces extending from the back of the mount body in engagement on the periphery of the mounting hole.

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No.09/438,538, filed Nov. 12, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,395.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a. retractable assist grip for a car body,which is retracted from its use position to its retracted position whenit is not in use, and a mounting method thereof, and more particularlyrelates to pivotal type one which is retractable so as to be swung toits retracted position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

There is known a conventional retractable assist grip of such kind, forexample, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open GazetteNo. 9-263166. In this case, respective pairs of extensions are providedon each leg of a U-shaped grip body and each corresponding part of a carbody, and one pair of extensions, extending from one of the legs of thegrip body or the corresponding part of the car body, are interposedbetween the other pair of extensions. In addition, coaxial holes areformed over the two pairs of extensions, and a damper, which is formedof an outer cylinder and an inner pin inserted into the outer cylinderand in which a high-viscosity viscidity is encapsulated, is insertedinto the coaxial holes. And, the outer cylinder and the inner pin of thedamper are fixed to the two pairs of extensions, one located on the gripbody side and the other located on the car body side, respectively.Thus, when the grip body is swung from use to retracted position, it isurged against the swing motion by the viscosity of the viscidity in thedamper thereby reducing its swinging speed.

When the swing motion of the grip body toward the retracted position isslowed down in the above manner, the grip body slowly moves from use toretracted position. Therefore, it is prevented that the grip bodyimmediately moves to the retracted position and hits the car body hardto cause a beating sound. This provides a desired upscale image to theassist grip.

As another example of conventional pivotal type retractable assistgrips, there is known an assist grip in which one leg of the grip bodyis supported to a bearing member through a support pin, as disclosed inJapanese Patent Application Laid-Open Gazette No. 5-96982. In thisassist grip, the support pin is contacted with a frictional brake madeof viscoelastic resin material. When the grip body is swung from use toretracted position, it is given sliding resistance by the frictionalbrake thereby reducing its swinging speed.

The former conventional example (Japanese patent Application Laid-OpenGazette No. 9-263166) can provide improved quality appearance anddurability. However, in this example, since the damper formed of theouter cylinder and the inner pin is fitted as a pin into holes throughthe pairs of extensions of the grip body and the car body, the number ofcomponents forming the damper mechanism becomes increased, which invitesa rise in cost.

On the other hand, in the latter conventional example (Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open Gazette No. 5-96982), it is necessary to provide,in the bearing member, a frictional brake for contacting the support pintherewith. This increases the number of components for the dampingmechanism. In addition, since the swing motion of the grip body isdamped by sliding resistance, this makes it difficult to give an upscaleimage to the swing motion and may cause a drop in durability due tofriction.

Alternatively, there is a retractable assist grip easily and readilymountable to an inner panel of a car body, for example, as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 4,981,322. In this assist grip, a pair of mount bodies areeach formed with a through hole and a pair of flexible engaging pieceseach having a pawl at the distal end thereof are extended from theperiphery of the through hole on the back of each mount body.

In mounting this assist grip to the inner panel, the mounts arepresented to corresponding mounting holes of the inner panel, the pairsof flexible engaging pieces are inserted into the mounting holes,respectively and the mount bodies are caused to abut on the peripheriesof the corresponding mounting holes of the inner panel from the frontside of the inner panel. Then, locking pins are inserted into thethrough holes of the mound bodies from the front side of the innerpanel, respectively, and in this state, the grip body is swung in itsretracted direction to press the locking pins into the correspondingthrough holes of the mount bodies. Each of the pressed locking pinspushes the pair of flexible engaging pieces apart from each other sothat the pawls of the flexible engaging pieces are engaged on theperiphery of the mounting hole of the inner panel from the back sidethereof. Thus, the inner panel is secured in sandwich relation betweenthe mount bodies and the pawls.

Meanwhile, for retractable assist grips, the grip body and the mountsare separate parts. Therefore, if the grip body and the mounts arecarried individually into a car body assembly line and then mounted tothe inner panel, this increases the number of assembly man-hours in thecar body assembly line. Accordingly, the grip body and the mounts aregenerally carried, into the car body assembly line, in a semi-assembledcondition where, as in the above conventional case, the locking pins areinserted halfway into the corresponding through holes of the mountbodies.

However, when the locking pins are kept inserted halfway into thethrough holes of the mount bodies, some factor may cause the locking pinto be fully pressed into or dropped out of the through hole of the mountbody before the mounts are carried in the car body assembly line.

Once the locking pin has been fully pressed into the through hole, theassist grip in this state is no longer mountable to the inner panelsince both the pawls are pushed apart from each other beyond theaperture of the mounting hole. In this case, though the locking pinshould be pulled out of the through hole, the pulling of the locking pinis an extremely difficult work since the locking pin is forcibly pressedinto the through hole,.

On the other hand, if the locking pin has been dropped out of thethrough hole, it may be lost, which makes it impossible to assemble theassist grip to the car body in the car body assembly line. Such an eventconstitutes a serious impediment to a smooth flow of the car bodyassembly line and therefore should be absolutely avoided.

A first object of the present invention is to improve a damper mechanismof a pivotal type retractable assist grip that uses a damper in which ahigh-viscosity viscidity is encapsulated, and more specifically not onlyto slow down the swing motion of the assist grip to its retractedposition by an excellent damping effect of the damper in which theviscidity is encapsulated but also to reduce the number of components ofthe assist grip thereby resulting in cost reduction.

A second object of the present invention is to avoid any impediment tothe mounting of the assist grip to a fixed body such as a car body panelby preventing the locking pin from moving to its locking position beforethe carriage of the assist grip into the assembly line and from droppingout of the through hole of the mount body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the first object, in the present invention, an assist grip isconfigured such that a damper, in which the above-mentionedhigh-viscosity viscidity is encapsulated, is incorporated together witha grip body and a mount.

Specifically, the present invention is directed to a retractable assistgrip including: a pair of mounts fixed to a fixed body such as a carbody; a grip body pivotally mounted for swing motion at legs thereofonto the mounts, respectively; and urging means, provided between atleast one of the legs of the grip body and the corresponding mount, forurging the grip body into swing motion from its use position to itsretracted position.

Further, at least one of the pair of mounts includes a fulcrum pinextended integrally from one side thereof, a recess formed coaxiallywith the fulcrum pin on the opposite side of the mount, and a loose-fitpin extended integrally from the inner bottom toward the opening of therecess and coaxially with the fulcrum pin. Furthermore, the leg of thegrip body is formed with a pin support journaled on the fulcrum pin. Inaddition, the leg of the grip body is assembled against relativerotation with a spacer rotatably inserted into the recess of the mountand including a pin loose-fitting part for loosely receiving theloose-fit pin therein, and a viscidity is provided in a space betweenthe outer periphery of the spacer and the inner periphery of the recessof the mount.

With this arrangement, when the grip body swings with respect to themount having the fulcrum pin, the pin support in the leg of the gripbody rotates about the fulcrum pin of the mount and the spacer assembledagainst relative rotation with the leg of the grip body rotates aboutthe loose-fit pin within the recess of the mount. Since the viscidity isprovided in the space between the inner periphery of the recess of themount and the outer periphery of the spacer, a damper is formed by themount and the spacer fitted on the grip body side. The viscosity of theviscidity in the damper produces resistance against the rotation of thespacer, so that the grip body can swing slowly. This provides an upscaleimage to the swing motion.

Further, since the grip body is supported to the mount having thefulcrum pin such that the pin support of the leg of the grip body isjournaled on the fulcrum pin of the mount and the spacer fitted on thegrip body side is inserted into the recess of the mount, the assist gripcan be built up from the urging means, the grip body, the mount and thespacer only. Accordingly, the number of components of the assist grip isreduced than that of the conventional one, which achieves costreduction. In addition, since the damper is accommodated in the gripbody, the appearance of the assist grip can be improved.

The viscidity is preferably also provided in a space between the innerperiphery of the pin loose-fitting part of the spacer and the outerperiphery of the loose-fit pin of the mount. In this case, when the gripbody swings with respect to the mount, resistance against the swingmotion produces not only by the viscosity of the viscidity in the spacebetween the inner periphery of the recess of the mount and the outerperiphery of the spacer but also by the viscosity of the viscidity inthe space between the inner periphery of the pin-loose-fitting part ofthe spacer and the outer periphery of the loose-fit pin. The increase inresistance against the swing motion resulting from the viscidity of boththe parts further increases the damping effect. In addition, since theparts for giving resistance against the swing motion by the viscidityare disposed in two layers around the rotational axis, the axial lengthof the damper can be shortened correspondingly.

Alternatively, a retractable assist grip of the present invention may bearranged as follows: In the retractable assist grip directed in theabove manner, at least one of the pair of mounts is formed of first andsecond mounts; a leg of the grip body is assembled into unitary rotationwith a fulcrum pin supported to the first mount; the grip body is formedwith a spacer fitting part formed of a concavity coaxial with thefulcrum pin, the fulcrum pin extending inside the spacer fitting parttoward the opening thereof; the second mount includes a spacer partrotatably fitted into the spacer fitting part and provided with a recessfor loosely receiving the fulcrum pin extending inside the spacerfitting part therein; and a viscidity is provided at least between theouter periphery of the spacer part of the second mount and the innerperiphery of the spacer fitting part of the grip body.

With this arrangement, when the grip body swings, the fulcrum pinassembled into unitary rotation with the leg of the grip body rotateswith respect to the first mount and the grip body rotates around thesecond mount the spacer part of which is inserted into the spacerfitting part. At the time, since the viscidity is provided between theouter periphery of the spacer part of the second mount and the innerperiphery of the spacer fitting part of the grip body, a damper isformed between the spacer part of the second mount and the grip body.The viscosity of the viscidity in the damper produces resistance againstthe swing motion of the grip body thereby swinging the grip body slowly.This provides an upscale image to the swing motion.

In addition, since the grip body is supported to the two mounts throughthe fulcrum pin, the assist grip can be built up from the grip body, thefulcrum pin, the two mounts and the urging means only. This reduces thenumber of components of the assist grip, resulting in cost reduction.Also, since the damper is accommodated in the grip body, the appearanceof the assist grip can be improved.

A sealing member may be provided in one of a portion of the innerperiphery of the recess of the amount in the vicinity of the open end ofthe recess and a corresponding portion of the outer periphery of thespacer, and a sealing surface engaging against the sealing member may beprovided in the other so that the engagement of the sealing memberagainst the sealing surface seals from the outside at least the spacebetween the outer periphery of the spacer and the inner periphery of therecess of the mount. In addition, the sealing member may be placed, whenthe spacer is inserted into the recess of the mount and the viscidity isfilled with at least the space between the outer periphery of the spacerand the inner periphery of the recess of the mount while expelling airfrom the space, to form a seal with the sealing surface by engagementagainst the sealing surface with the air in the space substantiallyfully expelled.

The sealing member may be placed, when the spacer is fully inserted intothe recess of the mount, on apportion the sealing surface closer to theopening of the recess than the center of the sealing surface in adirection of insertion of the sealing member.

With the above sealing structures, when the spacer is inserted into therecess of the mount and the viscidity is filled with at least the spacebetween the outer periphery of the spacer and the inner periphery of therecess of the mount while expelling air from the space, the air in thespace can be expelled as much as possible to fill the space withsubstantially the viscidity alone. This enhances the damping effect ofthe viscidity.

More specifically, when a seal is formed by engaging the sealing memberagainst the sealing surface, the sealing member is generally placed onthe center of the sealing surface. However, if the sealing member isplaced on a portion of the sealing surface closer to the opening of therecess than the center of the sealing surface in a direction ofinsertion of the sealing member like the invention as claimed in claim4, a seal formation of the sealing member is delayed in inserting thespacer into the recess of the mount and the air in the space can becorrespondingly much expelled to fill the spaces with substantially theviscidity alone.

A first restriction may be extended on the outer periphery of the spacerso as to be opposed to and spaced a predetermined clearance apart fromthe inner periphery of the recess of the mount, a second restriction maybe extended on the inner periphery of the recess of the mount so as tobe opposed to and spaced a predetermined clearance apart from the outerperiphery of the spacer, and the first and second restrictions may beplaced at positions to allow the swing motion of the grip body betweenthe use position and retracted position.

With this arrangement, when the grip body automatically swing from itsuse position to retracted position by the bias of the urging means, theviscidity located in a zone between the first restriction on the outerperiphery of the spacer and the second restriction on the innerperiphery of the recess of the mount is pressurized by both therestrictions. The viscidity in the zone flows while being squeezedthrough the clearance between the first restriction and the innerperiphery of the recess of the mount and the clearance between thesecond restriction and the outer periphery of the spacer. The flowresistances of the viscidity enhance the damping effect to reduce theswinging speed of the grip body, which can further slowly swing the gripbody.

A third restriction may be extended on the outer periphery of theloose-fit pin of the mount so as to be opposed to and spaced apredetermined clearance apart from the inner periphery of the pinloose-fitting part of the spacer, a fourth restriction may be extendedon the inner periphery of the pin loose-fitting part of the spacer so asto be opposed to and spaced a predetermined clearance apart from theouter periphery of the loose-fit pin of the mount, and the third andfourth restrictions may be placed at positions to allow the swing motionof the grip body between the use and retracted positions.

With this arrangement, when the grip body automatically swing from itsuse position to retracted position by the bias of the urging means, theviscidity located in a zone between the fourth restriction on the innerperiphery of the pin loose-fitting part of the spacer and the thirdrestriction on the outer periphery of the loose fit pin of the mount ispressurized by both the restrictions. The viscidity in the zone flowswhile being squeezed through the clearance between the fourthrestriction and the outer periphery of the loose fit pin of the mountand the clearance between the third restriction and the inner peripheryof the pin loose-fitting part of the spacer. As a result, the dampingeffect of the viscidity is enhanced, which can further slowly swing thegrip body.

A plurality of support flanges may be radially extended incircumferentially equally spaced relation on one of a bottom end portionof the inner periphery of the recess of the mount and the outerperiphery of the distal end of the spacer so as to relatively slidablyengage the other. With this structure, the distal end of the spacer canbear against the mount. This enhances the bearing property of the mountrelative to the spacer or the grip body.

To attain the above-mentioned second object, in this invention, alocking pin is pushed in to a larger extent than required to temporarilydisengage the coupling between the distal end of the locking pin fromengaging pieces, and thereafter the distal end of the locking pin isretained at a locking position between the engaging pieces incooperation with the swing motion of the grip body to the use position.

More specifically, the invention is directed to a retractable assistgrip including an elongated grip body having legs at both lengthwiseends thereof and mounts to which the legs are mounted for swing motion,the grip body being swung between its use and retracted positions withthe mounts fixed to a fixed body.

Further, the mount includes: amount body which is provided with a swingsupport section for supporting the legs for swing motion and abuts onthe periphery of a mounting hole of the fixed body from the front sideof the fixed body; a through hole passing through the mount body fromfront to back thereof; at least two engaging pieces which are extendedfrom the periphery of the through hole on the back of the mount body andinserted into the mounting hole of fixed body to engage on the edge ofthe mounting hole; and a locking pin having an extension at the distalend thereof, the locking pin being inserted into the through hole fromthe front side of the mount body prior to the mounting of the grip bodyto the mount so that the extension passes a locking position between theengaging pieces while pushing the engaging pieces apart from each other,the locking pin being restrained against movement opposite to adirection of insertion thereof into the through hole by the distal endsof the engaging pieces narrowed in distance therebetween by the passageof the extension over the locking position so that the extension isretained at a position having passed over the locking position, thelocking pin being moved backward opposite to the direction of insertionthereof by the swing motion of the grip body to the use position in astate that the mount body of the mount to which the grip body is mountedis caused to abut on the periphery of the mounting hole of the fixedbody from the front side thereof, the back ward movement of the lockingpin causing the extension to enter again between the engaging pieces andpush the engaging pieces apart from each other so that the extension isretained at the locking position thereby holding the engaging pieces inengagement on the edge of the mounting hole.

With the above structure, when the locking pin is inserted into thethrough hole of the mount body and the extension at the distal end ofthe locking pin enters between the engaging pieces while pushing themapart from each other and then passes over the locking position, theengaging pieces are released from the pressing force of the extension toregain its original position of narrow distance. The locking pin isthereby restrained against movement opposite to the direction ofinsertion thereof so that the extension is retained at a position havingpassed over the locking position. Accordingly, it can be avoided thatsome factor may cause the locking pin to move to the locking positionbefore the mounts are carried in the car body assembly line. And, it canbe prevented that the locking pin may drop out of the through hole ofthe mount body, or may be lost.

Further, since the extension of the locking pin is retained at aposition having passed over the locking position, the engaging piecesare free from the pressing force of the extension so that the distancebetween the engaging pieces are narrowed. This enables the engagingpieces to be smoothly inserted into the mounting hole of the fixed body.

Accordingly, lack of parts and a difficult pulling work of the lockingpin in the locking position are eliminated. This avoids a seriousimpediment to a smooth flow of the car body assembly line. In addition,by simply swinging the grip body to the use position, the extension ofthe locking pin can automatically be inserted between the engagingpieces and the locking pin can be retained at the locking position withthe engaging pieces engaged on the; edge of the mounting hole.Accordingly, the assist grip can be mounted to the fixed body in asingle operation.

A movement assist piece may be extended from the root end of the lockingpin, and a pusher may be provided at the bottom end of the leg of thegrip body so as to abut on the movement assist piece and move thelocking pin opposite to the direction of insertion thereof by the swingmotion of the grip body to the use position. This provides a specificmechanism for moving the locking pin to the locking position.

The fixed body may be a car body panel.

Further, a mounting method of a retractable assist grip according to thepresent invention is directed to a method of mounting a retractableassist grip including an elongated grip body having legs at bothlengthwise ends thereof and mounts to which the legs are mounted forswing motion, the grip body being swung between its use and retractedpositions with the mounts fixed to a fixed body, and the methodcomprises the steps of: inserting a locking pin having an extension atthe distal end thereof into a through hole of the mount body from thefront side thereof so that the extension passes a locking positionbetween at least two engaging pieces extended from the periphery of thethrough hole on the back of the mount body while pushing the engagingpieces apart from each other, and restraining the locking pin againstmovement opposite to a direction of insertion thereof into the throughhole by the distal ends of the engaging pieces narrowed in distancetherebetween by the passage of the extension over the locking positionso that the extension is retained at a position having passed over thelocking position; and after mounting the grip body to the mount,swinging the grip body to the use position with the mount body caused toabut on the periphery of the mounting hole of the fixed body from thefront side thereof and moving the locking pin opposite to the directionof insertion thereof by the swing motion of the grip body to cause theextension to enter between the engaging pieces and push the engagingpieces apart from each other so that the extension is retained at thelocking position thereby holding the engaging pieces in engagement onthe edge of the mounting hole. According to this method, the assist gripcan be mounted to the fixed body so as to exert the above-describedeffects of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line I—I ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an essential part of an assist grip accordingto Embodiment 1 of the present invention as seen from the bottom.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the essential part of the assist grip in FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow IV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V—V of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged front view of a mount.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of the mount.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the mount.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged front view of a spacer.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side view of the spacer.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged plan view of the spacer.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line XII—XIIof FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3, which shows an assist gripof Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged side view of a fulcrum pin.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged front view of the fulcrum pin.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged plan view of a first mount.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged front view of the first mount.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged plan view of a second mount.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged front view of the second mount.

FIG. 20 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1, which shows an assist gripof Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an essential part ofthe assist grip of Embodiment 3.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged side view of an end portion of a spacer.

FIG. 23 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1, which shows a mountingstructure of one of legs of a grip body in Embodiment 4 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1, which shows a mountingstructure of the other leg of the grip body.

FIG. 25 is a front view showing the grip body in which mounts aremounted to the right- and left-hand legs in Embodiment 4.

FIG. 26 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1, which shows an assist gripof Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXVII—XXVII ofFIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 27, which shows that the gripbody is in its use position.

FIG. 29 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing that an assistgrip according to Embodiment 6 is mounted to an inner pane

FIG. 30 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing that a lockingpin is mounted to a mount body.

FIG. 31 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing that the lockingpin and a grip body are mounted to a mount.

FIG. 32 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an initial stateof the grip body swung to its use position.

FIG. 33 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing that the assistgrip has been mounted to the inner panel by swing motion of the gripbody to its use position.

FIG. 34 is a bottom view of a leg of the grip body.

FIG. 35 is an plan view of the mount body.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing the entire assist grip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(Embodiment 1)

FIGS. 1 through 5 show a pivotal type retractable assist grip Gaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in thesefigures, a grip body 1 is curved approximately in the shape of a bracketand is made of polypropylene (PP) for example. The grip body 1 has apair of legs 1 a, 1 a at the lengthwise right and left ends (only theright-hand leg is shown in this embodiment), respectively, and ispivoted at the right-hand left-hand legs 1 a, 1 a to, for example, a carbody (fixed body) B forming a vertical sidewall in a room of a vehicle.The pivoted structure thereof at the legs 1 a, 1 a allows the grip body1 to swing between its use position and its retracted position. When thegrip body 1, is in the retracted position, the intermediate part thereofdirects upwardly to take a position approximately along the verticalplane. On the other hand, when the grip body 1 is in the use position,the intermediate part directs toward the car room to take a positionapproximately along the horizontal plane.

Specifically, in a state that the grip body 1 is in the retractedposition, an accommodating section 2 is formed on the back of one of thelegs, e.g., the right-hand leg 1 a (or the left-hand leg 1 a), (on theside opposed to the car body B) so as to be constituted by a cavity cutout in an approximately rectangular shape upwardly from the bottomsurface of the grip body 1. Out of two laterally opposed sidewalls ofthe accommodating section 2, an outer sidewall located far from thelateral center of the grip body 1 (right-hand sidewall in FIG. 1) isformed into a pin support 3. A bottomed circular support bore 4 isformed in the inside surface of the pin support 3. On the other hand, aninner sidewall of the accommodating section 2, located closer to thelateral center of the grip body 1 (left-hand sidewall in FIG. 1), has aspacer fitting hole 5 having a half-round lower part and a rectangularupper part and formed through the inner sidewall such that the center ofthe half circle of the lower part is aligned with the center of thesupport bore 4.

In the accommodating section 2 of the grip body 1, part of a mount 7,which is made of polyacetal (POM) or the like and secured to the carbody B, is disposed and contained. As shown in FIG. 6 through 8, themount 7 has a bottomed box-shaped fixing part 8 of rectangular sectionwith a front aperture. The bottom of the fixing part 8 has a screwfree-receiving hole 9 formed therethrough. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,the mount 7 is fixed to the car body B by fitting the bottom of thefixing part 8 of the mount 7 into a rectangular mounting recess B1formed in the car body B and threading a screw S, having passed throughthe screw free-receiving hole 9 at the bottom of the fixing part 8, intoa screw hole B2 formed at the bottom of the mounting recess B1. An upperedge of the aperture of the fixing part 8 is provided integrally with ahinged type cover 10 for opening and closing the aperture. Theabove-mentioned threading work using the screw S is made with the cover10 open, and thereafter, the cover 10 is closed to cover the aperture ofthe fixing part 8 thereby hiding the screw S.

At the front side of the fixing part 8 of the mount 7, a supporting part11 is integrally formed so as to be offset below from the fixing part 8(on the side opposite to a hinged part 10 a of the cover 10). Out oflaterally opposite side surfaces of the supporting part 11, one sidesurface facing the pin support 3 of the grip body 1 is formed integrallywith a fulcrum pin 12 extending from the one side surface. On the otherside surface of the supporting part 11, a recess 13, formed of a taperedhole diminishing its inner diameter toward the fulcrum pin 12 (towardits bottom), is formed coaxially with the fulcrum pin 12. A taperedloose-fit pin 14 is extended integrally from the bottom of the recess 13and coaxially with the fulcrum pin 12 to pass the inside of the recess13 toward the opening thereof. The root end of the tapered loose-fit pin14 has a diameter substantially equal to that of the fulcrum pin 12. Theloose-fit pin 14 extends beyond the opening of the recess 13, and thedistal end portion thereof is extended and formed integrally into asmall-diameter pivot pin 14 a forming a level difference with theremaining portion of the loose-fit pin 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the distal end portion of the fulcrum pin 12 of themount 7 is rotatably inserted into the support bore 4 of the pin support3 in the right-hand leg 1 a of the grip body 1. Under thisconfiguration, the grip body 1 is supported at the pin support 3 of theright-hand leg 1 a for swing motion on the fulcrum pin 12 of the mount7.

A torsion coil spring 16 as an urging means is disposed around thefulcrum pin 12 of the mount 7. The spring 16 is anchored at one endthereof on the pin support 3 of the grip body 1 and at the other end onthe fixing part 8 of the mount 7. The grip body 1 is urged into swingmotion from the use position toward the retracted position by the torqueof the spring 16.

A bottomed spacer 18 in substantially cylindrical form is fixedlymounted against rotation in the spacer fitting hole of the right-handleg 1 a of the grip body 1. The end portion of the spacer 18 is insertedrotatably in the recess 13 of the mount 7. In detail, as shown in FIGS.9 through 11, the end portion of the spacer 18 is composed of a taperedinsert part 19 and a sealing part 20 of larger diameter extendingradially outwardly from the root end of the insert part 19 to form alevel difference therebetween. As shown in FIG. 1, when the insert part19 is inserted into, the recess 13 of the mount 7, a tapered cylindricalspace of substantially uniform clearance is defined between the outerperiphery of the insert part 19 and the inner periphery of the recess13. This space between the outer periphery of the insert part 19 and theinner periphery of the recess 13 is provided by previously diminishingthe diameter of the outer periphery of the insert part 19 in a manner ofradially inwardly cutting it, to form a level difference thereon.Alternatively, the space may be provided by previously increasing thediameter of the inner periphery of the recess 13 in a manner of radiallyoutwardly cutting it to form a level difference thereon. In the vicinityof the open end of the recess 13 of the mount 7, a sealing surface 24 isformed of a cylindrical surface parallel with the axis of the recess 13.The sealing part 20 of the spacer 18 can be fitted into the recess 13 atthe sealing surface 24 in liquid-tight manner by engagement with thesealing surface 24. Through the engagement with the sealing surface 24,the sealing part 20 closes the open end of the recess 13 so as to allowrotation relative to the sealing surface 24, and seals the space betweenthe outer periphery of the insert part 19 and the inner periphery of therecess 13 and a space between the inner periphery of the hereinafterdescribed pin loose-fitting part 22 and the outer periphery of theloose-fit pin 14 of the mount 7.

The root end portion of the spacer 18 has the same contour (half-roundat one end and rectangular at the other end) as that of the spacerfitting hole .5 of the right-hand leg 1 a of the grip body 1. Thefitting of the root end portion into the spacer fitting hole 5 holds thespacer 18 against rotation in the spacer fitting hole 5. A pair ofclicks 21, 21 protrudes from diametrically opposite positions on theouter periphery of the root end portion of the spacer 18. On insertingthe spacer 18 into the spacer fitting hole 5, the clicks 21 are engagedwith the inside surface of the right-hand leg 1 a of the grip body 1 sothat the spacer 18 is securely held against movement off from the spacerfitting hole 5.

The spacer 18 is internally formed with the pin loose-fitting part 22tapered and formed of a bottomed hole extending from the distal endthereof. A bore 22 a is formed coaxially at the bottom of the pinloose-fitting part 22. As shown in FIG. 1, the loose-fit pin 14 of themount 7 is loosely fitted into the pin loose-fitting part 22 so as toallow relative rotation of the spacer 18, and the pivot pin 14 a of theloose-fit pin 14 is fitted into the bore 22 a. In these fittingconditions, a tapered cylindrical space of substantially uniformclearance is defined between the outer periphery of the loose-fit pin 14and the inner periphery of the pin loose-fitting part 22.

The space between the outer periphery of the insert part 19 of thespacer 18 and the inner periphery of the recess 13 is communicated withthe space between the outer periphery of the loose-fit pin 14 of themount 7 and the inner periphery of the pin loose-fitting part 22 of thespacer 18. A viscidity L made of a liquid such as a silicon of highviscosity (preferably, 100,000 cps or more) is filled in and liesbetween both the spaces. The recess 13 and the loose-fit pin 14 of themount 7, the insert part 19 and the pin loose-fitting part 22 of thespacer 18, and the viscidity L in the spaces form a damper 23 forgenerating torque providing resistance to swing motion of the grip body1.

The load acting on the grip. body 1 of the assist grip G in passenger'suse is distributed into three parts, i.e., the fulcrum pin 12 of themount 7 fitted in the pin support 3 of the grip body 1, the open endportion (sealing surface 24) of the recess 13 of the mount 7 fitted onthe sealing part 20 of the spacer 18 and the pivot pin 14 a of the mount7 fitted in the bore 22 a of the spacer 18, and is then transmitted tothe mount 7. This prevents breakage of the pin support 3 of the gripbody 1 and the mount 7 and so on due to a concentrated load.

Alternatively, the load acting on the grip body 1 may not necessarily bedistributed into the above-mentioned three parts in the mount 7, and maybe distributed into two parts, i.e., the fulcrum pin 12 and the pivotpin 14 a of the mount 7, or the fulcrum pin 12 and the open end portionof the mount 7.

As shown in FIG. 5, an abutment portion 6 is formed at the lower end ofthe opening of the accommodating section 2 in the right-hand leg 1 a ofthe, grip body 1, and the fixing part 8 of the mount 7 is formed with astop 15 abuttable on the abutment portion 6. On swinging the grip body 1from retracted to use position, the abutment portion 6 abuts on the stop15 of the fixing part 8 of the mount 7 so that the grip body 1 isconstrained to stop at the use position.

The left-hand leg 1 a as the other leg of the grip body 1 is providedwith neither spring 16 nor damper 23 as in the right-hand leg 1 a,though it is not shown. The left-hand leg 1 a is supported for swingmotion through a fulcrum pin alone to a mount fixed to the car body B(wherein the mechanism of fixing this mount to the car body B uses ascrew like the fixing of the mount 7 for mounting the right-hand leg 1 aon the car body B). Specifically, this mechanism is the same as that atorsion coil spring 16, a spring abutment 7 a and a spring anchor lug 59are removed from the mechanism shown in FIG. 24 in Embodiment 4described later.

In assembling the assist grip G of this embodiment with the car body B,for the right-hand leg 1 a of the grip body 1, the torsion coil spring16 is first disposed around the fulcrum pin 12. Then, both ends of thetorsion coil spring 16 are anchored on the grip body 1 and the mount 7,respectively, while the end of the fulcrum pin 12 is inserted into thesupport bore 4 of the pin support 3 of the grip body 1. Subsequently,the spacer 18 is inserted into and fixed to the spacer fitting hole ofthe right-hand leg 1 a of the grip body 1 in a manner of inserting theinsert part 19 thereof into the recess 13 of the mount 7 while looselyfitting the loose-fit pin 14 of the mount 7 into the pin loose-fittingpart 22. Further, prior to the assembly of the spacer 18, a desiredamount of viscidity L is filled into both the recess 13 of the mount 7and the pin loose-fitting part 22 of the spacer 18. This allows theviscidity L to be encapsulated in the respective spaces defined betweenthe outer periphery of the insert part 19 of the spacer 18 and the innerperiphery of the recess 13 and between the inner periphery of the pinloose-fitting part 22 of the spacer 18 and the outer periphery of theloose-fit pin 14 of the mount 7, concurrently with the assembly of thespacer 18.

The assist grip G, having been assembled with the mount 7 in the abovemanner, is assembled to the car body B by passing a screw S through thescrew free-receiving hole 9 of the fixing part 8 of the mount 7 andfastening the mount 7 to the car body B through the screw S. Thereafter,the hinged type cover 10 is closed to cover the aperture of the fixingpart 8 thereby hiding the screw S.

Accordingly, in the assist grip G of this embodiment, the grip body 1 isnormally urged into swing motion to the retracted position and held inthis position by a bias of the torsion coil spring 16. Then, when thepassenger uses the assist grip G, he can grasp the grip body 1 and swingit to the use position against the bias of the torsion coil spring 16present in the right-hand leg 1 a. Further, when the passenger stops theuse of the assist grip G, if he simply releases the grip body 1, thegrip body 1 automatically returns from use to retracted position whilebeing swung by the bias of the torsion coil spring 16.

During the swing motion of the grip body 1 from use to retractedposition (and also during the swing motion thereof from retracted to useposition), the pin support 3 of the right-hand leg 1 a of the grip body1 rotates around the fulcrum pin 12 of the mount 7, and the spacer 18,mounted against rotation in the right-hand leg 1 a of the grip body 1,rotates in the recess 13 of the mount 7. At the time, since theviscidity L lies in the space between the inner periphery of the recess13 of the mount 7 and the outer periphery of the insert part 19 of thespacer 18, the viscosity of the viscidity L provides resistance (torque)to the rotation of the spacer 18 and the grip body 1. In addition, sincethe viscidity L also lies in the space between the inner periphery ofthe pin loose-fitting part 22 of the spacer 18 and the outer peripheryof the loose-fit pin 14 of the mount 7, the viscosity of the viscidity Lin this space also provides resistance to rotation. Such resistance atthese locations causes the grip body 1 to swing slowly from use toretracted position. As a result, it is prevented that the grip body 1hits the car body B hard to cause a beating sound. And, such slow swingmotion provides an upscale image to the assist grip G.

Further, since the damper 23 is formed by filling the viscidity L intoboth the spaces between the inner periphery of the recess 13 of themount 7 and the outer periphery of the insert part 19 of the spacer 18and between the inner periphery of the pin loose-fitting part 22 of thespacer 18 and the outer periphery of the loose-fit pin 14, part of thedamper 23 which provides rotational resistance is constructed in twolayers of different diameters around the axis of rotation. Accordingly,the axial length of the damper 23 can be shortened as compared with adamper having part constructed in a single layer for providingrotational resistance.

Furthermore, the grip body 1 is supported to the mount 7 in such amanner that the pin support 3 of the right-hand leg 1 a is journaled onthe fulcrum pin 12 of the mount 7 and the spacer 18 is inserted into therecess 13 of the mount 7. Therefore, the assist grip G is built up fromthe grip body 1, the mount 7, the torsion coil spring 16 and the spacer18 only. Accordingly, the number of components of the assist grip G canbe reduced, resulting in cost reduction.

In addition, since the damper 23 is accommodated in the grip body 1, theappearance of the assist grip G can be improved.

In this embodiment, the torsion coil spring 16 and the damper 23 areprovided only in one leg (right-hand leg) 1 a of the grip body 1.However, they may be provided in both the right-hand left-hand legs 1 a,1 a.

(Embodiment 2)

FIGS. 12 through 19 show Embodiment 2 of the invention. It is to benoted that in each of embodiments described hereinafter, same componentsas those shown in FIGS. 1 through 11 are indicated by like referencecharacters and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the right-hand leg (or left-hand leg) 1 a as one ofthe legs of the grip body 1 in the retracted position is formed with anupper accommodating section 31, a lower accommodating section 32 locatedbelow the upper accommodating section 31 and far from the lateral centerof the grip body 1, and a spacer fitting part 5 located below the upperaccommodating section 31 and closer to the lateral center of the gripbody 1. The lower accommodating section 32 and the spacer fitting part 5are separated one from the other by a partition 33. The upper and loweraccommodating sections 31, 32 are cavities formed by recessing the backface of the right-hand leg 1 a. The spacer fitting part 5 is a circularhole formed by recessing the side surface of the right-hand leg 1 acloser to the lateral center of the grip body 1 and tapering therecessed surface. The bottom of the spacer fitting part 5 is formed ofthe above-mentioned partition 33. The outer sidewall of the loweraccommodating section 32 is formed into the pin support 3. The pinsupport 3 is formed at the inside surface with a bottomed support bore 4of rectangular cross section coaxially with the spacer fitting part 5.The partition 33 has a pin tight-fitting hole 34 formed therethroughcoaxially with the spacer fitting part 5.

In order to pivotally mount the right-hand leg 1 a of the grip body 1 onthe car body B, a fulcrum pin 37 and first and second mounts 42, 48 areprovided. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the fulcrum pin 37 has asubstantially cylindrical profile, and the outer periphery of the distalend portion thereof on the spacer fitting part 5 side is tapered towardthe distal end. And, the fulcrum pin 37 has a bottomed axial hollow 38opening into the distal end surface and tapered toward the root end ofthe fulcrum pin 37. On the other hand, the root end of the fulcrum pin37 is formed integrally with a tight-fit part 39 of rectangular crosssection, and the outer periphery thereof has a flange-shaped stop 40extended therefrom. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the tight-fit part 39of the fulcrum pin 37 is tightly fitted against rotation into thesupport bore 4 of the pin support 3 of the grip body 1. The intermediateportion of the fulcrum pin 37 is fitted into the pin tight-fitting hole34 in the partition 33 of the grip body 1 in liquid-tight manner, andthe flange-shaped stop 40 on the outer periphery of the fulcrum pin 37is engaged on the side surface of the partition 33 of the grip body 1.In this manner, the fulcrum pin 37 is fixedly assembled to the grip body1 for unitary rotation and against axial movement. The spacer fittingpart 5 of the grip body 1 is formed coaxially with the fulcrum pin 37,and the distal end portion of the fulcrum pin 37 extends to pass theinside of the spacer fitting part 5 toward its opening.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the first mount 42 has a fixing part 43disposed and accommodated in the upper accommodating section 31 of thegrip body 1. The fixing part 43 is provided with: a screw free-receivinghole 9 for freely receiving a screw (not shown) for fastening the firstmount 42 to the car body B; and a hollow engaging part 44 of rectangularcross section, laterally formed through the fixing part 43, for engagingthe hereinafter described fixing part 49 (see FIGS. 13, 18 and 19) ofthe second mount 48.

At the front side of the fixing part 43, a bearing part 45 is integrallyformed which extends rightwardly downward from the fixing part 43 to bedisposed and accommodated in the lower accommodating section 32 of thegrip body 1. The bearing part 45 has a pin loose-fitting hole 46 formedtherethrough. Under this configuration, as shown in FIG. 12, the bearingpart 45 of the first mount 42 is disposed in the lower accommodatingsection 32 of the grip body 1, and the fulcrum pin 37 is rotatablyinserted into the pin loose-fitting hole 46 of the bearing part 45. Inthis manner, the grip body 1 is supported to the first mount 42, fixedlymounted on the car body B, for swing motion through the fulcrum pin 37.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, a torsion coil spring 16 is carried aboutthe fulcrum pin 37 between the partition 33 of the grip body 1 and thebearing part 45 of the first mount 42. Both ends of the spring 16 areanchored to the bearing part 45 and the partition 33, respectively.Under this configuration, the spring bias force of the torsion coilspring 16 urges the grip body 1 from use to retracted position.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the second mount 48includes a fixing part 49 disposed and accommodated in the upperaccommodating section 31 of the grip body 1. Respective pawls 49 a, 49 aprotrude from upper and lower side ends of the fixing part 49. Thefixing part 49 is slidingly inserted into the engaging part 44 of thefixing part 43 of the first mount 42 to engage the engaging part 44 atthe pawls 49 a, 49 a. This engagement between the fixing part 49 and theengaging part 44 causes the second mount 48 to be fixedly integrallyengaged with the first mount 42. A reference numeral 50 denotes a notchformed to correspond to the screw free-receiving hole 9 of the firstmount 42.

To the front side of the fixing part 49 of the second mount 48, asubstantially cylindrical spacer part 51 is integrally connected whichextends downwardly from the fixing part 49 to be disposed andaccommodated in the spacer fitting part 5 of the grip body 1. One endportion of the spacer part 51 is composed of a tapered insert part 52and a sealing part 53 extending radially outwardly from the insert part52. As shown in FIG. 12, the insert part 52 of the spacer part 51 isinserted into the spacer fitting part 5 of the grip body 1 with a spaceof substantially uniform clearance defined therebetween to allowrotation of the grip body 1. The sealing part 53 is fitted onto the openend portion of the spacer fitting part 5 in liquid-tight manner. Thesealing part 53 closes the open end portion of the spacer fitting part 5so as to allow rotation relative to the opening, and seals the spacebetween the outer periphery of the insert part 52 of the spacer part 51and the inner periphery of the spacer fitting part 5, a space betweenthe inner periphery of the hereinafter described recess 54 and the outerperiphery of the fulcrum pin 37, and a space between the outer peripheryof the hereinafter described loose-fit pin 55 and the inner periphery ofthe axial hollow 38 of the fulcrum pin 37. In FIG. 17, a referencenumeral 47 denotes a cover similar to the cover 10 described inEmbodiment 1.

Alternatively, if a sealing member such as an O-ring is interposedbetween the intermediate portion of the fulcrum pin 37 and the pintight-fitting hole 34 of the partition 33 and/or between the opening ofthe spacer fitting part 5 and the sealing part 53 of the spacer part 51,the liquid-tight seal between these members can be further improved.

In the distal end surface of the spacer part 51 of the second mount 48,a recess 54 of a tapered hole diminishing its inner diameter toward theroot end of the spacer part 51 (toward the bottom thereof) is formedcoaxially with the outer periphery of the spacer part 51. A tapered.loose-fit pin 55 is extended coaxially and integrally from the bottom ofthe recess 54 to pass the inside of the recess 54 toward an openingthereof. The loose-fit pin 55 extends beyond the opening of the recess54. When the spacer part 51 is inserted into the spacer fitting part 5of the grip body 1, the distal end portion of the fulcrum pin 37 isrotatably inserted into the recess 54 of the spacer part 51 with a spaceof substantially uniform clearance defined therebetween, and theloose-fit pin 55 of the spacer part 51 is rotatably inserted into theaxial hollow 38 of the fulcrum pin 37 with a space of substantiallyuniform clearance defined therebetween.

The three spaces between the inner periphery of the spacer fitting part5 of the grip body 1 and the outer periphery of the insert part 52 ofthe spacer part 51 of the second mount 48, between the inner peripheryof the recess 54 of the spacer part 51 and the outer periphery of thefulcrum pin 37 and between the outer periphery of he loose-fit pin 55 ofthe spacer part 51 and the inner periphery of the axial hollow 38 of thefulcrum pin 37, are communicated with each other. A viscidity L isfilled in and lies between these spaces. The viscidity L in thesethree-layered spaces form a damper 56 for generating torque providingresistance to swing motion of the grip body 1.

In assembling the assist grip G of this embodiment with the car body B,the root end of the fulcrum pin 37 is first inserted into the pintight-fitting hole 34 of the partition 33 through the spacer fittingpart 5 of the grip body 1. Then, the root end of the fulcrum pin 37passing through the pin tight-fitting hole 34 is inserted into thetorsion coil spring 16 and the pin loose-fitting hole 46 of the bearingpart 45 of the first mount 42. Thereafter, the tight-fit part 39 of thefulcrum pin 37 is fixedly fitted into the support bore 4 of the pinsupport 3 of the grip body 1, and the flange-shaped stop 40 on the outerperiphery of the fulcrum pin 37 is engaged on the side surface of thepartition 33 of the grip body 1. In this manner, the fulcrum pin 37 isfixedly assembled in unitary relation to the grip body 1.

Subsequently, a desired amount of viscidity L is filled into the recess54 of the spacer part 51 of the second mount 48, into the spacer fittingpart 5 of the grip body 1 and into the axial hollow 37 of the fulcrumpin 37. Then, the first and second mounts 42, 48 are unitarily set byengaging the fixing part 49 of the second mount 48 to the engaging part44 of the first mount 42 while sliding the former in the latter, and thespacer part 51 of the second mount 48 is inserted into the spacerfitting part 5 of the grip body 1. Through this insertion, the distalend portion of the fulcrum pin 37 and the loose-fit pin 55 of the spacerpart 51 are telescopically inserted into the recess 54 of the spacerpart 51 and the axial hollow 38 of the fulcrum pin 37, respectively.Also, as a result of the above insertion, the viscidity L isencapsulated in the respective spaces defined between the innerperiphery of the spacer fitting part 5 of the grip body 1 and the outerperiphery of the insert part 52 of the spacer part 51 of the secondmount 48, between the inner periphery of the recess 54 of the spacerpart 51 and the outer periphery of the fulcrum pin 37 and between theouter periphery of the loose-fit pin 55 of the spacer part 51 and theinner periphery of the axial hollow 38 of the fulcrum pin 37.

The assist grip G, having been assembled with the first and secondmounts 42, 48 in the above manner, is assembled to the car body bypassing a screw through the screw free-receiving hole 9 of the fixingpart 43 of the first mount 42 and fastening the first mount 42 to thecar body through the screw. Thereafter, the hinged type cover 47 isclosed to cover the aperture of the fixing part 43 thereby hiding thescrew.

Accordingly, in this embodiment, the grip body 1 is shifted between itsretracted position and use position while swinging relative to thebearing part 45 of the first mount 42 and the spacer part 51 of thesecond mount 48 in unitary relation to the fulcrum pin 37. At the time,the viscidity L lies in the respective spaces between the innerperiphery of the spacer fitting part 5 of the grip body 1 and the outerperiphery of the insert part 52 of the spacer part 51 of the secondmount 48, between the inner periphery of the recess 54 of the spacerpart 51 and the outer periphery of the fulcrum pin 37 and between theouter periphery of the loose-fit pin 55 of the spacer part 51 and theinner periphery of the axial hollow 38 of the fulcrum pin 37. Therefore,for example, during the swing motion of the grip body 1 from use toretracted position, the viscosity of the viscidity L provides resistanceto the swing motion of the grip body 1. Such resistance causes the gripbody 1 to swing slowly from use to retracted position. Accordingly, itis prevented that the grip body 1 hits the car body hard to cause abeating sound. And, such slow swing motion provides an upscale image tothe assist grip G.

Further, since the damper 56 is formed by filling the viscidity L intothe respective spaces between the inner periphery of the spacer fittingpart 5 of the grip body 1 and the outer periphery of the insert part 52of the spacer part 51 of the second mount 48, between the innerperiphery of the recess 54 of the spacer part 51 and the outer peripheryof the fulcrum pin 37 and between the outer periphery of the loose-fitpin 55 of the spacer part 51 and the inner periphery of the axial hollow38 of the fulcrum pin 37, part of the damper 56 which providesrotational resistance is constructed in three layers of differentdiameters around the axis of rotation. Accordingly, the axial length ofthe damper 56 can be further shortened than Embodiment 1.

Furthermore, the grip body 1 is supported to the two mounts 42, 48through the fulcrum pin 37. Therefore, the assist grip G can be built upfrom the grip body 1, the fulcrum pin 37, the two mounts 42, 48 and thetorsion coil spring 16 only. Accordingly, the number of components ofthe assist grip G can be reduced, resulting in cost reduction. Inaddition, since the damper 56 is accommodated in the grip body 1, theappearance of the assist grip G can be improved.

(Embodiment 3)

FIGS. 20 through 22 show Embodiment 3 of the invention, which aims atproviding a sealing member for liquid-tight sealing a space filled withthe viscidity L from the outside and enhancing the bearing property ofthe mount 7 relative to the spacer 18 or the grip body 1.

Specifically, this embodiment is based on the structure of Embodiment 1(see FIG. 1), in which an annular groove 25 is formed circumferentiallyin the outer periphery of the sealing part 20 of the spacer 18corresponding to the sealing surface 24 located in the vicinity of theopen end of the recess 13 of the amount 7, and a sealing member 26 suchas an O-ring is inserted into the annular groove 25 so as to engageagainst the sealing surface 24. The engagement of the sealing member 26against the sealing surface 24 seals from the outside the space betweenthe outer periphery of the spacer 18 and the inner periphery of therecess 13 of the mount 7 and the space between the inner periphery ofthe pin loose-fitting part 22 of the spacer 18 and the outer peripheryof the loose-fit pin 14 of the mount 7.

The sealing member 26 is placed, when the spacer 18 is assembled withthe leg 1 a of the grip body 1 by insertion into the recess 13 of themount 7 and the viscidity L is filled with the spaces between the outerperiphery of the spacer 18 and the inner periphery of the recess 13 ofthe mount 7 and between the inner periphery of the pin loose-fittingpart 22 of the spacer 18 and the outer periphery of the loose-fit pin 14of the mount 7 while expelling air from the spaces, to form a seal withthe sealing surface 24 by engagement against the sealing surface 24 withthe air in the spaces substantially fully expelled.

More specifically, as shown in enlarged manner in FIG. 21, the sealingmember 26 is placed, when the spacer 18 is fully inserted into therecess 13 of the mount 7, on a portion of the sealing surface 24 closerto the opening of the recess 13 than the center of the sealing surface24 in a direction of insertion of the sealing member 26 (lateraldirection in FIGS. 20 and 21), in other words, at such a position that adistance dl between the sealing member 26 and one end of the sealingsurface 24 located on an opening side of the recess 13 is smaller than adistance d2 between the sealing member 26 and the other end of thesealing surface 24 located on a bottom side of the recess 13 (i.e.,d2>d1).

As also shown in FIG. 22, the bottom end portion of the inner peripheryof the recess 13 of the mount 7 is formed with a cylindrical supportingsurface 13 a extending parallel with the axis of the recess 13. And, aplurality of (four in this example shown in the figure) support flanges27, 27, are radially outwardly extended in circumferentially equallyspaced relation on the outer periphery of the distal end of the insertpart 19 of the spacer 18. The end faces (outer peripheries) of thesupport flanges 27 relatively slidably engage the supporting surface 13a located in the bottom end portion of the inner periphery of the recess13 of the mount 7. The support flanges 27, 27, . . . support the distalend of the insert part 19 of the spacer 18 for rotation relative to themount 7. The other structures are the same as in Embodiment 1.

The space between the outer periphery of the spacer 18 and the innerperiphery of the recess 13 of the mount 7 is communicated with the spacebetween the inner periphery of the pin loose-fitting part 22 and theouter periphery of the loose-fit pin 14 of the mount 7 through slotsbetween the support flanges 27, 27.

Thus, in this embodiment, the sealing member 26 of the sealing part 20of the spacer 18 is placed on a portion of the sealing surface 24 (asection of the inner periphery of the recess 13 in the vicinity of itsopen end) of the mount 7 closer to the opening of the recess 13 than thecenter of the sealing surface 24 in a direction of insertion of thesealing member 26. Therefore, in the assembly of the spacer 18, when thespacer 18 is inserted into the recess 13 of the mount 7 with necessaryamounts of viscidities L previously received in the recess 13 and thepin loose-fitting part 22 of the spacer 18, respectively, and theviscidities L are thereby filled with the respective spaces definedbetween the outer periphery of the spacer 18 and the inner periphery ofthe recess 13 of the mount 7 and between the inner periphery of the pinloose-fitting part 22 of the spacer 18 and the outer periphery of theloose-fit pin 14 of the mount 7 while expelling air in both the spaces,a seal formation by engagement of the sealing member 26 against thesealing surface 24 is delayed as compared with the case where thesealing member 25 is placed at the center of the sealing surface 24 inthe direction of insertion of the sealing member 26. As a result, asshown in imaginary lines in FIG. 20, the sealing member 26 forms a sealby engagement against the sealing surface 24 with substantially full airexpelled from both the spaces. This allows to expel as much the air inthe spaces as possible to fill the spaces with substantially theviscidity L alone and correspondingly enhances the damping effect of theviscidity L.

Further, in this embodiment, the plurality of support flanges 27, 27, .. . are extended on the outer periphery of the distal end of the insertpart 19 of the spacer 18, the end faces (outer peripheries) of thesupport flanges 27 slidably engage the supporting surface 13 a locatedin the bottom end portion of the inner periphery of the recess 13 of themount 7, and the support flanges 27, 27, . . . support the distal end ofthe insert part 19 of the spacer 18 for rotation relative to the mount7. Accordingly, the spacer 18 can be supported not only with the bottom(base end) of the pin loose-fitting part 22 to the loose-fit pin 14 ofthe mount 7 but also with the distal end of the insert part 19 to thesupporting surface 13 a in the bottom end portion of the inner peripheryof the recess 13 through the support flanges 27. This enhances thebearing property of the mount 7 relative to the spacer 18 or the gripbody 1.

In this embodiment, a portion of the inner periphery of the recess 13 ofthe mount 7 located in the vicinity of the open end of the recess 13 isformed into the sealing surface 24, the annular groove 25 is formed inthe outer periphery of the sealing part 20 of the spacer 18, and thesealing member 26 is inserted into the annular groove 25. On thecontrary, the outer periphery of the sealing part 20 of the spacer 18may be formed into a sealing surface, an annular groove may be formed ina portion of the inner periphery of the recess 13 of the mount 7 locatedin the vicinity of the open end of the recess 13, and the sealing membermay be inserted into the annular groove. This modified structure alsoexerts the same operations and effects as obtained in Embodiment 3.

Further, in Embodiment 3, the outer periphery of the distal end of theinsert part 19 of the spacer 18 is formed with the plurality of supportflanges 27, 27, . . . which slidably engage the supporting surface 13 alocated in the bottom end portion of the inner periphery of the recess13 of the mount 7. On the contrary, the bottom end portion of the innerperiphery of the recess 13 of the mount 7 maybe formed with a pluralityof radially inwardly extending support flanges in circumferentiallyequally spaced relation, and the support flanges may engage for relativesliding movement against a cylindrical supporting surface provided onthe outer periphery of the distal end of the insert part 19 of thespacer 18.

(Embodiment 4)

FIGS. 23 through 25 show Embodiment 4 of the invention. Unlike theaforementioned embodiments in which the torsion coil spring 16 and thedamper 23 are provided in the common leg (right-hand leg) 1 a of thegrip body 1, this embodiment is constructed so that the right- andleft-hand legs 1 a, 1 a of the grip body 1 each separately include oneof the spring 16 and the damper 23.

Specifically, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 25, the right- andleft-hand legs 1 a, 1 a of the grip body 1 are pivotally mounted forswing motion onto mounts 7, 7′, respectively. The damper 23 is providedonly between the right-hand leg 1 a as one of the legs and the mount 7,while the torsion coil spring 16 is provided only between the left-handleg 1 a as the other leg and the mount 7′.

As shown in enlarged manner in FIG. 23, the mechanism of mounting theright-hand leg 1 a of the grip body 1 onto the mount 7 and the mechanismof forming the damper 23 in the right-hand leg 1 a are essentially thesame as in Embodiment 3 (see FIG. 20), but this embodiment is differentfrom Embodiment 3 only in that the right-hand leg 1 a does not includethe torsion coil spring 16. Further, in correspondence with the lack ofthe torsion coil spring 16, the length of the fulcrum pin 12 is reducedand the depth of the recess 13 of the mount 7, the length of theloose-fit pin 14 and the length of the tapered insert part 19 of thespacer 18 are increased. This results in increasing the axial lengths ofthe spaces defined between the outer periphery of the spacer 18 and theinner periphery of the recess 13 of the mount 7 and between the innerperiphery of the pin loose-fitting part 22 of the spacer 18 and theouter periphery of the loose-fit pin 14 of the mount 7.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 24, the mount 7′ for pivotallymounting the left-hand leg 1 a of the grip body 1 is mounted onto thecar body B in the same manner as the mount 7 for pivotally mounting theright-hand leg 1 a is done. In the figure, same components as used inthe right-hand mount 7 are indicated by like reference characters anddetailed description thereof will be omitted. An accommodating section 2for accommodating the mount 7′ is formed in the left-hand leg 1 a of thegrip body 1, and laterally opposed sidewalls of the left-hand leg 1 alocated on both lateral sides of the accommodating section 2 are formedinto pin supports 3 and 3, respectively. Bottomed and through supportholes 4 and 58 are coaxially formed in the inside surfaces of the pinsupports 3, 3 located on the left and right sides in FIG. 24,respectively. Further, a spring anchor lug 59, is integrally extendedfrom the inner bottom wall (upside wall in FIG. 24) of the accommodatingsection 2 of the left-hand leg 1 a of the grip body 1 at a positionthereof close to the right-hand pin support 3. The spring anchor lug 59is formed with a through hole 60 extending substantially parallel withthe support holes 4, 58 of the left- and right-hand pin supports 3, 3.

A portion of the mount 7′ accommodated in the accommodating section 2 ofthe left-hand leg 1 a of the grip body 1 is formed in the shape of arectangular box open to the opposite side to a portion thereof mountedto the car body B. Pin receiving holes 61, 61 are coaxially formedthrough right and left sidewalls of the box, respectively. A laterallyextending fulcrum pin 62 is passed through and mounted in both the pinreceiving holes 61, 61. Both end portions of the fulcrum pin 62 arerotatably inserted into the support holes 4, 58 of both the pin supports3, 3 in the left-hand leg 1 a.

The torsion coil spring 16 is disposed on the fulcrum pin 62. One end ofthe spring 16 is hooked through the hole 60 of the spring anchor lug 59,while the other end extends, for example, radially outwardly, beyond theother portions and bears against a spring abutment 7 a′ provided on theleft sidewall of the mount 7′ shown in FIG. 24. The grip body 1 is urgedinto swing motion from the use position toward the retracted position bythe torque of the spring 16.

In a condition that the support holes 4, 58 of both the pin supports 3,3 of the left-hand leg 1 a of the grip body 1 are coaxially aligned withthe pin receiving holes 61, 61 of the mount 7′, the fulcrum pin 62 isinserted from the support hole 58 of the left-hand leg 1 a through thepin receiving holes 61, 61 of the mount 7′ into the support hole 4.After the insertion of the fulcrum pin 62, a snap ring 63 is insertedinto the support hole 58 to a position of one end of the fulcrum pin 62and fitted thereinto against the drop-out of the fulcrum pin 62.

The other structures are the same as in Embodiment 3 and therefore thesame effects as obtained in Embodiment 3 can also be obtained in thisembodiment.

The structures of Embodiment 4 may be combined with those of Embodiment1 so that the torsion coil spring 16 and the damper 23 are provided inone of the legs 1 a of the grip body like Embodiment 1 and an additionaltorsion coil spring 16 is provided in the other leg 1 a.

(Embodiment 5)

FIGS. 26 through 28 show Embodiment 5 of the invention. This embodimentaims at enhancing the flow resistance of the viscidity L.

Specifically, like Embodiment 3 (see FIG. 20), this embodiment isconfigured so that the tapered insert part 19 of the spacer 18 isinserted into the recess 13 of the mount 7, the viscidity L isencapsulated in the spaces defined between the outer periphery of theinsert part 19 and the inner periphery of the recess 13 and between theinner periphery of the pin loose-fitting part 22 of the spacer 18 andthe outer periphery of the loose-fit pin 14 of the mount 7. In thisconfiguration, a first restriction 65 is formed integrally on the outerperiphery of the insert part 19 of the spacer 18 so as to be radiallyoutwardly raised therefrom. The first restriction 65 is formed of a ribextending along the axis of the insert part 19 over substantially theentire length of the outer periphery of the insert part 19, and the topsurface thereof is opposed to the inner periphery of the recess 13 ofthe mount 7 so as to be spaced apart from each other by a predeterminedclearance.

On the other hand, a second restriction 66 is formed integrally on theinner periphery of the recess 13 of the mount 7 so as to be radiallyinwardly raised therefrom. As shown in FIG. 26, the second restriction66 is formed of a rib extending along the axis of the recess 13 oversubstantially the entire length of the inner periphery of the recess 13,and the top surface thereof is opposed to the outer periphery of theinsert part 19 of the spacer 18 so as to be spaced apart from each otherby a predetermined clearance. And, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, thefirst and second restrictions 65, 66 are placed at positions to allowthe swing motion of the grip body between the use position (shown inFIG. 28) and the retracted position (shown in FIG. 27) withoutinterference with each other.

Furthermore, a third restriction 67 is formed integrally on the outerperiphery of the loose-fit pin 14 of the mount 7 so as to be radiallyoutwardly raised therefrom. The third restriction 67 is formed of a ribextending along the axis of the loose-fit pin 14 over substantially theentire length of the outer periphery of the loose-fit pin 14 , and thetop surface thereof is opposed to the inner periphery of the pinloose-fitting part 22 of the spacer 18 so as to be spaced apart fromeach other by a predetermined clearance. On the other hand, a fourthrestriction 68 is formed integrally on the inner periphery of the pinloose-fitting part 22 of the spacer 18 so as to be radially inwardlyraised therefrom. The fourth restriction 68 is formed of a rib extendingalong the axis of the pin loose-fitting part 22 over substantially theentire length of the inner periphery of the pin loose-fitting part 22,and the top surface thereof is opposed to the outer periphery of theloose-fit pin 14 of the mount 7 so as to be spaced. apart from eachother by a predetermined clearance. And, the third and fourthrestrictions 67, 68 are placed at positions to allow the swing motion ofthe grip body 1 between the use and retracted positions, like the firstand second restrictions 65, 66.

Accordingly, in this embodiment, when the passenger releases the gripbody 1 in use position shown in FIG. 28, the grip body 1 automaticallyswing clockwise of FIG. 28 by the bias of the torsion coil spring 16 andmoves from the use position to the retracted position shown in FIG. 27.Further, as described above, the first and second restrictions 65, 66are extended on the outer periphery of the insert part 19 of the spacer18 and the inner periphery of the recess 13 of the mount 7,respectively. Therefore, the viscidity L in a zone between theapproaching first and second restrictions 65, 66 in the space betweenthe outer periphery of the insert part 19 of the spacer 18 and the innerperiphery of the recess 13 is pressurized by the first and secondrestrictions 65, 66 during the above swing motion of the grip body 1.Accordingly, the viscidity L in the zone between the approaching firstand second restrictions 65, 66 flows into an opposite zone (a zonebetween the first and second restrictions 65, 66 moving away from eachother) while being squeezed through the clearance between the firstrestriction 65 and the inner periphery of the recess 13 of the mount 7and the clearance between the second restriction 66 and the outerperiphery of the spacer 18.

In addition, during the clockwise swing motion of the grip body 1 fromuse to retracted position, also in the space between the inner peripheryof the pin loose-fitting part 22 of the spacer 18 and the outerperiphery of the loose fit pin 14 of the mount 7, the viscidity L in azone between the fourth restriction 68 on the inner periphery of the pinloose-fitting part 22 and the third restriction 67 on the outerperiphery of the loose fit pin 14 is pressurized by approach of both therestrictions 67, 68, and thereby flows into an opposite zone (a zonebetween the third and fourth restrictions 67, 68 moving away from eachother) while being squeezed through the clearance between the fourthrestriction 68 and the outer periphery of the loose fit pin 14 of themount 7 and the clearance between the third restriction 67 and the innerperiphery of the pin loose-fitting part 22 of the spacer 18.

As a result, the damping effect is enhanced by the flow resistances ofthe viscidity L passing through the restrictions 65-68 to reduce theswinging speed of the grip body 1, which can further slowly swing thegrip body 1.

In this embodiment, each of the restrictions 65 through 68 is formedalong the axis over substantially the entire length of the correspondingsurface. Such an arrangement is preferable because it can provide amaximum damping effect. However, each length of the restrictions 65through 68 may not necessarily be maximized as described above but maybe reduced as necessary or may be arbitrarily set depending upon, forexample, the property of the viscidity L or the bias of the torsion coilspring 16.

Further, in Embodiment 5, four restrictions in all, i.e., the firstthrough fourth restrictions 65-68, are formed. However, only the firstand second restrictions 65, 66 may be formed. Alternatively, only thethird and fourth restrictions 67, 68 may be formed.

(Embodiment 6)

FIGS. 29 through 36 show a retractable assist grip G according toEmbodiment 6 of this invention. This assist grip G includes an elongatedgrip body 1 made of resin such as PP and mounts 103A and 103B made ofresin such as POM. The grip body 1 and the mounts 103A, 103B areseparate parts. The grip body 1 is curved approximately in the shape ofa bracket and has a pair of legs 105, 105 at the lengthwise right andleft ends. The left-hand leg 105 as viewed in FIG. 36 is pivotallymounted to the mount 103A, while the right-hand leg 105 as viewed inFIG. 36 is pivotally mounted to the mount 103B. Since the mounts 103Aand 103B have the below-described common characteristics, though theyhave different hinge structures (see FIG. 36), the common parts will bedescribed with reference to the mount 103A alone without using the mount103B.

The assist grip G is mounted to an inner panel P as a car body panel(fixed body) through the two mounts 103A, 103B. The inner panel P iscovered with a ceiling member T as an internal trim part. At a positionof the inner panel P at which the assist grip is mounted, tworectangular mounting holes p1 are formed to correspond to the two legs105 of the assist grip G and have a distance therebetween correspondingto that between the two legs 105. Further, at a position of the ceilingmember T at which the assist grip is mounted, two rectangular mountingholes t1 larger in diameter than the mounting holes p1 are formed tocorrespond to the two legs 105 of the assist grip G and have a distancetherebetween corresponding to that between the two legs 105. The mounts103A, 103B are mounted in the two mounting holes p1 of the inner panelP, respectively. In this mounted condition, the grip body 1 is swungbetween its use and retracted positions. Here, the retracted position ofthe grip body 1 means, as shown in FIG. 29, the position when the gripbody 1 is directed upward (to the left in FIG. 29) and lies along theceiling member T forming substantially a perpendicular surface. On theother hand, the use position thereof means, as shown in FIG. 33, theposition when the grip body 1 is directed to the car room and extendssubstantially horizontally.

An accommodating section 107 is formed on the back of the leg 105 of thegrip body 1 (on the side thereof opposed to the ceiling member T in theretracted position of the assist grip) so as to be recessed in anapproximately rectangular shape upwardly from the bottom end of the leg105. In the retracted position of the assist grip, the leg 105 is heldagainst interference with the mount 103A, 103B by accommodating in theaccommodating section 107 a hereinafter described mount body 109 of themount 103A, 103B extending toward the car room from the ceiling memberT. As shown in FIG. 34, the bottom end of the leg 105 is cut out at twoportions thereof in a rectangular shape to form abutments 107 b as swingstops for holding the grip body 1 in a horizontal attitude at its useposition. A portion of the leg 105 between the two abutments 107 bconstitutes a pusher 107 c which turns toward the opening side of theaccommodating section 107 to push up a hereinafter described locking pin123 in the opposite direction of its insertion into a through hole 117described later. The structures described so far are common to theright- and left-hand legs 105. However, the hinge structures formounting the grip body 1 for swing motion to the mounts 103A and 103Bare slightly different between the right- and left-hand legs 105.

Specifically, in each of the right- and left-hand legs 105, twolaterally opposed sidewalls 107 d of the accommodating section 107 actas pin supports. The two sidewalls 107 d of the left-hand leg 105 asviewed in FIG. 36 are provided with opposed support holes 107 e asthrough holes, respectively, while the two sidewalls 107 d of theright-hand leg 105 as viewed in FIG. 36 are formed with a through spacerfitting hole 107 f of larger diameter and a bottomed support bore 107 gof smaller diameter, respectively, so as to be opposed to each other.

As shown in FIG. 29, the left-hand mount 103A as viewed in FIG. 36 has amount body 109 protruding toward the car room. The mount body 109 isformed in the shape of a rectangular box formed of a bottom wall 109 aand sidewalls 109 b. In the sidewalls 109 b, a recess 109 c open to thecar room is formed. The lower end of the sidewall 109 b forming one side(right-hand side in FIG. 29) of the mount body 109 is formed with anentrance 109 d allowing for entry of the pusher 107 c of the leg 105therein. Side edges on both sides of the entrance 109 d form stops 109 eabuttable on the respective abutments 107 b of the leg 105. On swingingthe grip body 1 from retracted to use position, the abutments 107 b abuton the stops 109 e so that the grip body 1 is held against further swingmotion and in a horizontal attitude at the use position (see FIG. 33).

As also shown in FIG. 35, two raised portions 109 f of L-shape as viewedfrom above for preventing the locking pin from dropping down into thethrough hole 117 are juxtaposed in one end portion (left-hand portion asviewed in FIG. 29 or upper end portion as viewed in: FIG. 35) of thebottom wall 109 a. Further, in a portion of the bottom wall 109 alaterally away from the raised portions 109 f (right-hand portion asviewed in FIG. 29 or lower portion as viewed in FIG. 35), another tworaised portions 109 g of substantially triangular as viewed fromsidewise for preventing the locking pin from dropping down into thethrough hole 117 are juxtaposed in spaced relation to the raisedportions 109 f. The raised portions 109 g located on the right side asviewed in FIG. 29 (the lower side as viewed in FIG. 35) are formed atside surfaces closer to the entrance 109 d into inclined surfaces. Theinclined surfaces act as a guide for smooth upward movement of amovement assist piece 127 a described later of the locking pin 123 asshown in FIG. 29.

In the left-hand mount 103A as viewed in FIG. 36, a laterally protrudingsection formed of three sidewalls 109 b above the entrance 109 dconstitutes a swing support section 111. The swing support section 111consists of a pair of pin supports 111 a and a connecting part 111 b forconnecting the pair of pin supports 111 a. The pair of pin supports 111a are formed with pin receiving holes 111 c, respectively. A pin 113 isinserted into the two pin receiving holes 111 c and both ends of the pin113 are inserted into the right and left support holes 107 e of the leg105. Thereby, the grip body 1 is supported for swing motion to the mountbody 109. A torsion coil spring 115 is disposed on the pin 113. Thetorsion coil spring 115 is anchored at its one end to the connectingpart 111 b of the swing support section 111 and at the other end,through it is not shown, to the lower end of the leg 105. By the torqueof the torsion coil spring 115, the grip body 1 is urged into swingmotion from use to retracted position and the mount body 109 can beaccommodated in the accommodating section 107 in the retracted positionof the assist grip (see FIG. 29).

The recess 109 c of the mount body 109 is divided into two sections by apartition 109 h. The swing support section 111 is provided at one side(right side in FIG. 29 or lower side in FIG. 35) of the partition 109 h.A portion of the bottom wall 109 a located at the other side (left sidein FIG. 29 or upper side in FIG. 35) of the partition 109 h is formedwith a rectangular through hole 117 passing between the raised portions109 f and 109 g of the bottom wall 109 a from front to back (from upperto lower side as viewed in FIG. 29). On the periphery of the throughhole 117 on the back of the bottom wall 109 a of the mount body 109, apair of flexible engaging pieces 119 are oppositely extended which canbe inserted into the mounting hole p1 of the inner panel P to engage onthe edge of the mounting hole p1. Pawls 119 a for preventing thedrop-out of the mount body 109 from the inner panel P are formed at therespective distal ends of the flexible engaging pieces 119 so as to beprotruded outwardly from the through hole 117. On the back of the pawl119 a of one (right-hand one in FIG. 29) of the flexible engaging pieces119, a projection 119 b is formed for retaining the locking pin 123 inits locking position. Further, on the back of the bottom wall 109 a ofthe mount body 109, two abutment pieces 121 are extended beside theflexible engaging pieces 119. The abutment pieces 121 abut on theperiphery of the mounting hole p1 of the inner panel P from the frontside of the inner panel P when the assist grip is mounted to the innerpanel P.

The two flexible engaging pieces 119 are pushed apart from each other bya resin-made locking pin 123. The locking pin 123 consists of a rod 125,a rectangular cap 127 integrally provided at the root end of the rod125, and an extension 129 as a pin top integrally provided at the distalend of the rod 125. The extension 129 is formed with a locking retentionnotch 129 a for seating the locking retention projection 119 b of thepawl 119 a of the flexible engaging piece 119 therein. Movement assistpiece 127 a is integrally extended from the cap 127 through a thinningportion 127 b. The movement assist piece 127 a is rockable with respectto the cap 127 through the thinning portion 127 b. Before inserting thelocking pin 123 into the through hole 117, the movement assist piece 127a is in parallel with the cap 127 (at its uppermost position) as shownin dash-single-dot lines in FIG. 30. In inserting the locking pin 123into the through hole 117, the movement assist piece 127 a lies alongthe partition 109 h (at an intermediate position) as shown indash-double-dot lines in FIG. 30 with the push thereof by the operator.Further, when the locking pin 123 is fully inserted into the throughhole 117 to the extent that engages the bottom of the cap 127 to theraised portions 109 f, 109 g of the bottom wall 109 a, the movementassist piece 127 a is located between the raised portions 109 g and thepartition 109 h as shown in solid lines in FIG. 30. In mounting theassist grip G to the inner panel P, the swing motion of the grip body 1to the use position causes the pusher 107 c to abut on the movementassist piece 127 a and push the locking pin 123 in the oppositedirection of the insertion into the through hole 117 as shown in FIG.33.

Before the mounts 103A, 103B are carried in the car body assembly line,the locking pin 123 is previously inserted into the through hole 117 ofthe mount body 109 against dropping out therefrom. Specifically, priorto the mounting of the grip body 1 to the mounts 103A and 103B, thelocking pin 123 is inserted into the through hole 117 from the frontside. During this insertion, the extension 129 at the distal end thereofpasses between both the pawls 119 a while pushing both the flexibleengaging pieces 119 apart from each other. Then, when the extension 129passes over the pawls 119 a, the distance between the distal ends of theflexible engaging pieces 119 is narrowed. By the narrowed distancebetween the distal ends of the flexible engaging pieces 119, theextension 129 is restrained against movement in the opposite directionof the insertion into the through hole 117 and held at a position havingpassed over the locking retention projection 119 b (outside of the pawls119 a) as shown in FIG. 30.

Further, in mounting the mount body 109 in which the locking pin 123 isinserted as described above, namely, the assist grip G of which the gripbody 1 is mounted to the mounts 103A and 103B (see FIG. 31), to theinner panel Pin the car body assembly line, the abutment pieces 121 ofthe mount body 109 are caused to abut on the respective peripheries ofthe mounting holes p1 of the inner panel P from the front side thereof,and in this state the grip body 1 is swung toward its use position. Thepusher 107 c of the leg 105 thereby pushes up the movement assist piece127 a so that the locking pin 123 is moved back in the oppositedirection of the insertion into the through hole 117. Through thisbackward movement of the locking pin 123, the extension 129 goes backand enters between the flexible engaging pieces 119 while pushing themapart from each other, and the locking retention projection 119 b of thepawl 119 a then seats in the locking retention notch 129 a of theextension 129. The extension 129 is thus retained at the lockingposition between the pawls 119 a so that the locking pin 123 is held inlocking condition with the flexible engaging pieces 119 held engaged onthe edge of the mounting hole p1.

The right-hand mount 103B as viewed in FIG. 36 is different from theleft-hand mount 103A in their hinge structures for mounting the gripbody 1 for swing motion. However, the other structures are the same asin the left-hand mount 103A. Specifically, in the right-hand mount 103B,like Embodiment 1, the mount body 109 is provided with a bottomedcylindrical swing support section 131 for supporting the right-hand leg105 as viewed in FIG. 36 for swing motion. The swing support section 131includes a recess 131 a diminishing its diameter toward the bottom (theleft side as viewed in FIG. 36). A fulcrum pin 131 b is extendedoutwardly from the bottom of the swing support section 131. A loose-fitpin 131 c diminishing its diameter toward its distal end (to the rightside in FIG. 36) is extended from the inner bottom of the recess 131 ain coaxial relation with the fulcrum pin 131 b. A spacer 133 diminishingits diameter toward its distal end (to the left side in FIG. 36) isinserted at its root end into a spacer fitting hole 107 f of theright-hand leg 105. In the spacer 133, a pin loose-fitting part 133 adiminishing its diameter toward its bottom (to the right side in FIG.36) is formed from the distal to root end of the spacer 133. The spacer133 is inserted into the recess 131 a of the swing support section 131with a space left therebetween. The loose-fit pin 131 c of the swingsupport section 131 is inserted into the pin loose-fitting part 133 awith a space left therebetween. These two spaces form a continuoussingle space. A viscidity (not shown) made of a high-viscosity liquidsuch as silicon is encapsulated in the continuous space, thereby forminga damper for producing torque acting as resistance against the swingmotion of the grip body 1. By action of this damper, when swung from useto retracted position, the grip body 1 can return slowly to theretracted position against torque of the torsion coil spring 115.

Next, the mounting of the assist grip G to the inner panel P in thisembodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 30 through 33.First, the movement assist piece 127 a of the cap 127 of the locking pin123 is turned at the thinning portion 127 b from the position shown indash-single-dot lines in FIG. 30 to the position shown indash-double-dot lines in FIG. 30 in the direction of insertion. In thiscondition, the locking pin 123 is inserted into the through hole 117 ofthe mount body 109 from the front side thereof and pushed thereintountil the back face of the cap 127 abuts on the raised portions 109 f,109 g. During this insertion, since no restriction is present outside ofthe pair of flexible engaging pieces 119 , the extension 129 at thedistal end of the locking pin 123 passes between the pair of flexibleengaging pieces 119 while pushing them apart from each other, passesover the pair of pawls 119 a located at the locking position, and thenmoves outside beyond the distal ends of the pawls 119 a (see solid linesin FIG. 30). In this case, though the locking retention projection 119 btemporarily seats in the locking retention notch 129 a of the extension129, this seating engagement is released by a force of inserting thelocking pin 123 and the locking pin 123 is further inserted. After theextension 129 has passed over the flexible engaging pieces 119, theflexible engaging pieces 119 pushed apart from each other are releasedfrom the pressing force of the extension 129 and regains its originalposition of narrow distance by its own restoring force. In thiscondition, the locking pin 123 is not only restrained against furthermovement in the direction of insertion since the back of the cap 127abuts on the raised portions 109 f and 109 g, but also restrainedagainst movement opposite to the direction of insertion since theextension 129 abuts on the distal ends of the pawls 119 a. As a result,the extension 129 is retained outside of the distal ends of the pawls119 a.

In this manner, the locking pin 123 is held against drop-out from thethrough hole 117 of the mount body 109 and therefore can be preventedfrom being lost before the mounts 103A, 103B are carried in the car bodyassembly line. Accordingly, lack of parts and a difficult pulling workof the locking pin 123 falling into locking condition are eliminated.This avoids a serious impediment to a smooth flow of the car bodyassembly line.

During the insertion of the locking pin 123, the movement assist piece127 a moves guidedly along the partition 109 h and is then presentedbetween the partition 109 h and the raised portions 109 g.

Next, the grip body 1 is mounted to the mounts 103A, 103B in which thelocking pin 123 has been assembled in the mount body 109 in the abovemanner, thereby forming the assist grip G as shown in FIG. 31. Since themount 103A shown in FIGS. 30 through 33 is the left-hand one shown inFIG. 36, the torsion coil spring 115 is disposed on the pin 113 of theswing support section 111 in FIG. 31. On the other hand, in theright-hand mount 103B as viewed in FIG. 36, the spacer 133 is insertedinto the swing support section 131, thereby providing a damper function.In this condition, the grip body 1 takes a retracted position withrespect to the mounts 103A, 103B by the torque of the torsion coilspring 115 (see FIG. 31).

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 32, the mounts 103A and 103B of the assistgrip G are inserted into the corresponding mounting holes t1 of theceiling member T to engage the abutment pieces 121 of the mount body 109to the periphery of the corresponding mounting hole p1 of the innerpanel P from the front side thereof, and concurrently the pawls 119 a ofthe pair of flexible engaging pieces 119 are inserted into the mountinghole p1. During the time, since the extension 129 of the locking pin 123has passed over the pawls 119 a and is retained outside thereof, theflexible engaging pieces 119 are free from the pressing force of theextension 129. Further, since the distance between the pawls 119 a isnarrowed and the rod 125 of the locking pin 123 and the pawls 119 a areset at dimensions capable of passing through the mounting hole p1 by theinward flexion of the pawls 119 a, the pawls 119 a c an be smoothlyinserted into the mounting hole p1 of the inner panel P.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 33, the grip body 1 is swung to its useposition. Through this swing motion, the pusher 107 c of the leg 105enters inside of the mount body 109 through the entrance 109 d and movesthe movement assist piece 127 a of the locking pin 127 in the oppositedirection of the insertion of the locking pin 127. During the time, theinclined surfaces of the raised portions 109 g guides the movementassist piece 127 a of the locking pin 123 for smooth movement andprevents separation of the pusher 107 c from the movement assist piece127 a.

As a result, the locking pin 123 is moved back opposite to the directionof insertion. Through the backward movement of the locking pin 123, theextension 129 thereof enters between the flexible engaging pieces 119and pushes them apart from each other, the locking retention projection119 b of the flexible engaging piece 119 seats in the locking retentionnotch 129 a of the extension 129 to retain the extension 129 at thelocking position between the pawls 119 a, and the pawls 119 a of theflexible engaging pieces 119 are held engaged on the edge of themounting hole p1.

Then, when the grip body 1 is released, it returns to the retractedposition as shown in FIG. 29 by the torque of the torsion coil spring115 and the damping effect. From this point, even when the grip body 1is swung again to the use position, the pusher 107 c of the leg 105 nolonger moves the movement assist piece 127 a of the locking pin 123 inthe opposite direction of the insertion of the locking pin 123.Accordingly, the locking pin 123 neither drops out nor interferes withthe swing motion of the grip body 1.

As can be seen from the above, by simply swinging the grip body 1 to theuse position, the extension 129 of the locking pin 123 can automaticallybe pushed up to the locking position (between the pawls 119 a) to pushthe flexible engaging pieces 119 apart from each other and engage theflexible engaging pieces 119 on the edge of the mounting hole p1.Accordingly, the assist grip G can be easily mounted to the inner panelP in a single operation. In addition, in order to mount the assist gripG to the inner panel P, it suffices to prepare the grip body 1 and themounts 103A and 103B with locking pins 123, which form the assist gripG, and other mounting jigs and parts are dispensed with. This presentscost reduction.

In Embodiment 6, engaging pieces for engaging the mount to the innerpanel are implemented by the pair of flexible engaging pieces 119 havingrespective pawls 119 a. Alternatively, one of the engaging pieces may belike flexible engaging piece 119 and the other engaging piece may be afitting piece having a fitting groove. In this case, each of the mounts103A, 103B in which the locking pin 123 has been inserted is insertedinto the corresponding mounting hole t1 of the ceiling member T, theabutment piece 121 beside the pawl 119 a is engaged to the periphery ofthe mounting hole p1 of the inner panel P from the front side thereof,the fitting groove of the fitting piece is fitted onto the edge of themounting hole p1 of the inner panel P, and in this condition the gripbody 1 is swung toward the use position. Thereby, the extension 129 ofthe locking pin 123 is pushed in between the fitting piece and theflexible engaging piece to engage the pawl 119 a of the flexibleengaging piece 119 to the periphery of the mounting hole p1 of the innerpanel P from the back side thereof, thereby securing the inner panel Pin sandwich relation between the end face of the abutment piece 121 andthe pawl 119 a and between the both side faces of the fitting groove ofthe fitting piece.

In Embodiment 6, the locking pin 123 is retained at its locking position(between the pawls 119 a) by seating the locking retention projection119 b of the pawl 119 a of the flexible engaging piece 119 in thelocking retention notch 129 a of the extension 129 of the locking pin123. Alternatively, the locking pin 123 may be retained at its lockingposition (between the pawls 119 a) by providing a retainer for retentionof locking having an engaging projection in the cap 127 of the lockingpin 123 and engaging the engaging projection of the retainer in anengaging window (locking retention window) formed in the sidewall 109 bof the mount body 109.

In addition, a recess may be provided in one of abutting end faces ofthe movement assist piece 127 a of the locking pin 123 and the pusher107 c of the leg 105 of the grip body 1, a corresponding projection maybe provided in the other end face, both the recess and projection may befitted with each other. In this case, during the movement of the lockingpin 123 opposite in the direction of insertion, the pusher 107 c can beprevented from disengaging from the movement assist piece 127 a, therebyensuring the movement of the locking pin 123 to the locking position.

In the above embodiments, the retractable assist grips for vehicles aredescribed as examples. However, the present invention is also applicableto assist grips for other purposes.

What is claimed is:
 1. A retractable assist grip comprising: a pair of mounts fixed to a fixed body; a grip body pivotally mounted for swing motion at legs thereof onto the mounts, respectively; and urging means, provided between at least one of the legs of the grip body and the corresponding mount, for urging the grip body into swing motion from its use position to its retracted position, wherein at least one of the pair of mounts includes a fulcrum pin extended integrally from one side thereof, a recess formed coaxially with the fulcrum pin on the opposite side of the mount, and a loose-fit pin extended integrally from the inner bottom toward the opening of the recess and coaxially with the fulcrum pin, the leg of the grip body, which corresponds to the mount comprising the fulcrum pin, the loose-fit pin and the recess, is formed with a pin support journaled on the fulcrum pin, the leg of the grip body, which corresponds to the mount comprising the fulcrum pin, the loose-fit pin and the recess, is assembled against relative rotation with a spacer rotatably inserted into the recess of the mount and including a pin loose-fitting part for loosely receiving the loose-fit pin therein, and a viscidity is provided in a space between the outer periphery of the spacer and the inner periphery of the recess of the mount.
 2. The retractable assist grip of claim 1, wherein the viscidity is also provided in a space between the inner periphery of the pin loose-fitting part of the spacer and the outer periphery of the loose-fit pin of the mount.
 3. The retractable assist grip of claim 1, wherein at least one of the pair of mounts comprises: a mount body which is provided with a swing support section for supporting the legs of the grip body for swing motion and abuts on the periphery of a mounting hole of the fixed body from the front side of the fixed body; a through hole passing through the mount body from front to back thereof; at least two engaging pieces which are extended from the periphery of the through hole on the back of the mount body and inserted into the mounting hole of fixed body to engage on the edge of the mounting hole; and a locking pin having an extension at the distal end thereof, the locking pin being inserted into the through hole from the front side of the mount body prior to the mounting of the grip body to the mount so that the extension passes a locking position between the engaging pieces while pushing the engaging pieces apart from each other, the locking pin being restrained against movement opposite to a direction of insertion thereof into the through hole by the distal ends of the engaging pieces narrowed in distance therebetween by the passage of the extension over the locking position so that the extension is retained at a position having passed over the locking position, the locking pin being moved backward opposite to the direction of insertion thereof by the swing motion of the grip body to the use position in a state that the mount body of the mount to which the grip body is mounted is caused to abut on the periphery of the mounting hole of the fixed body from the front side thereof, the backward movement of the locking pin causing the extension to enter again between the engaging pieces and push the engaging pieces apart from each other so that the extension is retained at the locking position thereby holding the engaging pieces in engagement on the edge of the mounting hole.
 4. The retractable assist grip of claim 3, wherein a movement assist piece is extended from the root end of the locking pin, and a pusher is provided at the bottom end of the leg of the grip body so as to abut on the movement assist piece and move the locking pin opposite to the direction of insertion thereof by the swing motion of the grip body to the use position.
 5. The retractable assist grip of claim 1 or 2, wherein a sealing member is provided in either, one of a portion of inner periphery of the recess of the mount in the vicinity of the open end of the recess or a corresponding portion of the outer periphery of the spacer; and a sealing surface engaging against the sealing member is provided in the other, the engagement of the sealing member against the sealing surface from the outside at least the space between the outer periphery of the spacer and the inner periphery of the recess of the mount, the sealing member is placed, when the spacer is inserted into the recess of the mount and the viscidity is filled with at least the space between the outer periphery of the spacer and the inner periphery of the recess of the mount while expelling air from the space, to form a seal with the sealing surface by engagement against the sealing surface with the air in the space substantially fully expelled.
 6. The retractable assist grip of claim 5, wherein the sealing member is placed, when the spacer is fully inserted into the recess of the mount, on a portion of the sealing surface closer to the opening of the recess than the center of the sealing surface in a direction of insertion of the sealing member.
 7. The retractable assist grip of claim 1 or 2, wherein a first restriction part is extended on the outer periphery of the spacer so as to be opposed to and spaced a predetermined clearance apart from the inner periphery of the recess of the mount, a second restriction part is extended on the inner periphery of the recess of the mount so as to be opposed to and spaced a predetermined clearance apart from the outer periphery of the spacer, and the first and second restriction parts are placed at positions to allow the swing motion of the grip body between the use position and retracted position.
 8. The retractable assist grip of claim 7, wherein a third restriction part is extended on the outer periphery of a loose-fit pin of the mount so as to be opposed to and spaced a predetermined clearance apart from the inner periphery of the pin loose-fitting part of the spacer, a fourth restriction part is extended on the inner periphery of the pin loose-fitting part of the spacer so as to be opposed to and spaced a predetermined clearance apart from the outer periphery of the loose-fit pin of the mount, and the third and fourth restriction parts are placed at positions to allow the swing motion of the grip body between the use and retracted positions.
 9. The retractable assist grip of claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of support flanges are radially extended in circumferentially equally spaced relation on one of a bottom end portion of the inner periphery of the recess of the mount and the other periphery of a distal end of the spacer so as to relatively slidably engage the other.
 10. A retractable assist grip comprising: a pair of mounts fixed to a fixed body; a grip body pivotally supported for swing motion at legs thereof onto the mounts, respectively; and urging means, provided between at least one of the legs of the grip body and the corresponding mount, for urging the grip body into swing motion from its use position to its retracted position, wherein at least one of the pair of mounts is formed of first and second mounts, a leg of the grip body is assembled into unitary rotation with a fulcrum pin supported to the first mount, the grip body is formed with a spacer fitting part formed of a concavity coaxial with the fulcrum pin, the fulcrum pin extending inside the spacer fitting part toward the opening. thereof, the second mount includes a spacer part rotatably fitted into the spacer fitting part and provided with a recess for loosely receiving the fulcrum pin extending inside the spacer fitting part therein, and a viscidity is provided at least between the outer periphery of the spacer part of the second mount and the inner periphery of the spacer fitting part of the grip body.
 11. The retractable assist grip of claim 1, 2, or 10, wherein the fixed body is a car body panel.
 12. A retractable assist grip comprising: a pair of mounts fixed to a fixed body; a grip body pivotally mounted for swing motion at legs thereof onto the mounts, respectively; and urging means, provided between at least one of the legs of the grip body and the corresponding mount, for urging the grip body into swing motion from its use position to its retracted position, wherein at least one of the pair of mounts includes a recess having a base and is formed on either face of the two sides of the fulcrum of the leg of the grip body, which corresponds to the mount comprising the recess, in a direction where the fulcrum lies, a loose-fit pin integrated to the inner bottom of the recess and is extended from the inner bottom toward the opening of the recess, a spacer including a pin loose-fitting part with a base for receiving the loose-fit pin and is rotatably inserted from a front part into the recess, the leg of the grip body, which corresponds to the mount comprising the loose-fit pin and the recess, is assembled against relative rotation at the base of the pin loose-fitting part, and a viscidity is provided in a space between the outer periphery of the spacer and the inner periphery of the recess of the mount.
 13. The retractable assist grip of claim 12, wherein the viscidity is also provided in a space between the inner periphery of the pin loose-fitting part of the spacer and the outer periphery of the loose-fit pin of the mount.
 14. The retractable assist grip of claim 12, wherein a sealing member is provided in either, one of a portion of inner periphery of the recess of the mount in the vicinity of the open end of the recess or a corresponding portion of the outer periphery of the spacer; and a sealing surface engaging against the sealing member is provided in the other, the engagement of the sealing member against the sealing surface from the outside at least the space between the outer periphery of the spacer and the inner periphery of the recess of the mount, the sealing member is placed, when the spacer is inserted into the recess of the mount and the viscidity is filled with at least the space between the outer periphery of the spacer and the inner periphery of the recess of the mount while expelling air from the space, to form a seal with the sealing surface by engagement against the sealing surface with the air in the space substantially fully expelled.
 15. The retractable assist grip of claim 12, wherein a first restriction part is extended on the outer periphery of the spacer so as to be opposed to and spaced a predetermined clearance apart from the inner periphery of the recess of the mount, a second restriction part is extended on the inner periphery of the recess of the mount so as to be opposed to and spaced a predetermined clearance apart from the outer periphery of the spacer, and the first and second restriction parts are placed at positions to allow the swing motion of the grip body between the use position and retracted position.
 16. The retractable assist grip of claim 15, wherein a third restriction part is extended on the outer periphery of a loose-fit pin of the mount so as to be opposed to and spaced a predetermined clearance apart from the inner periphery of the pin loose-fitting part of the spacer, a fourth restriction part is extended on the inner periphery of the pin loose-fitting part of the spacer so as to be opposed to and spaced a predetermined clearance apart from the outer periphery of the loose-fit pin of the mount, and the third and fourth restriction parts are placed at positions to allow the swing motion of the grip body between the use and retracted positions.
 17. The retractable assist grip of claim 12, wherein a plurality of support flanges are radially extended in circumferentially equally spaced relation on one of a bottom end portion of the inner periphery of the recess on the mount and the other periphery of a distal end of the spacer so as to relatively engage the other.
 18. The retractable assist grip of claim 12, wherein at least one of the pair of mounts comprises: a mount body which is provided with a swing support section for supporting the legs of the grip body for swing motion and abuts on the periphery of a mounting hole of the fixed body from the front side of the fixed body; a through hole passing through the mount body from front to back thereof; at least two engaging pieces which are extended from the periphery of the through hole on the back of the mount body and inserted into the mounting hole of fixed body to engage on the edge of the mounting hole; and a locking pin having an extension at the distal end thereof, the locking pin being inserted into the through hole from the front side of the mount body prior to the mounting of the grip body to the mount so that the extension passes a locking position between the engaging pieces while pushing the engaging pieces apart from each other, the locking pin being restrained against movement opposite to a direction of insertion thereof into the through hole by the distal ends of the engaging pieces narrowed in distance therebetween by the passage of the extension over the locking position so that the extension is retained at a position having passed over the locking position, the locking pin being moved backward opposite to the direction of insertion thereof by the swing motion of the grip body to the use position in a state that the mount body of the mount to which the grip body is mounted is caused to abut on the periphery of the mounting hole of the fixed body from the front side thereof, the backward movement of the locking pin causing the extension to enter again between the engaging pieces and push the engaging pieces apart from each other so that the extension is retained at the locking position thereby holding the engaging pieces in engagement on the edge of the mounting hole.
 19. The retractble assist grip of claim 12, wherein the fixed body is a car body panel. 